Reqeptacle for keeping press-copying pads moist



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

O. L. WISE. RBGEPTAGLE FOR KEEPING PRESS GOPYING PADS MOIST.

No. 429,163. Patented June 3, 1890:

Invader: 4,. M 7? m;

m: uonms FETEn5 co, mom-mun, WASNINGTQN,

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

O. L. WISE. REOBPTAGLE FOR KEEPING PRESS COPYING PADS MOIST. No. 429,163. Patented June 3, 1890.

Ear/ 671105.605 H U NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES L. WISE, or BROOKLYN, New YORK.

REQEPTACLE FOR KEEPING PRESS-COPYING PADS MOIST.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 429,163, dated June 3, 1890.

Application filed September 29, 1888. Serial No. 286 ,7 22. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, CHARLES L. WIsE, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Receptacles for Keeping Press-Copying Pads Moist, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to means for keeping blotters or pads used in dampening the tissue sheets employed in making press copies of letters, &c., in a'suitably-moistened condition, so that they may be always ready for use.

The object of the invention is to devise a receptacle for the purpose stated by which a number of blotters or pads may be kept properly dampened without the necessity of bringing them in immediate contact with the dampening-fluid, which latter is supplied gradually and as it is absorbed by the copying pads or blotters.

The invention is set forth in the following description and illustrated in the annexed drawings, and the novel features for which Letters Patent are desired are specified in the claims at the end hereof.

The drawings forming part of this specification, and in which like features are inclicated by like figures of reference in the several views, show, in Figure 1, atop plan view of a receptacle embodying my improvements,

with the lid which covers the blotter-compartment broken away to disclose the interior of said compartment; in Fig. 2, a-front end view with the lid of the blotter-compartment raised 5 in Fig. 3, a transverse section through the blotter-compartment on line a: x of Fig. 1, with the lid, weight, and blotters in position; in Fig. 4, a section from front to rear through Fig. 1 von line 3 y, and at right angles to the section shown in Fig. 3; andin Fig. 5, a plan View of a modification, wherein the weight serves both as a cover and weight.

Referring to the drawings, 6 indicates a receptacle of galvanized iron or other non-corrosive material, and of the requisite dimensions. At the back of this receptacle and integral therewith is a compartment 7, which preferably is of the same width as receptacle 6; and in order to provide the required holding capacity without unduly increasing its dimensions rearward its height is made some-' thereby preventing the evaporation of the fluid. The receptacle 6 may be provided with a lid 10, having a downwardly-proj eoting edge 11, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4., so as to form a close joint between the lid and receptacle. The lid 10 is hinged in any suitable manner to the strip 12, which is an integral part of receptacle 6. It is of course practicable to hinge lid 10 in such manner that when closed it will enter the receptacle 6 and'rest directly upon the pile of pads or blotters, and thus serve as a weight as well as a lid.

In or upon the bottom of receptacle 6 there is provided aseries of small tubes 13,extending from the front of said receptacle to the rear wall of the water-compartment 7, with which compartment all of said tubes, with the exception of one, communicate through openings 14, made in the bottom of said compartment, and the entire series of tubes is in communication with one another through transverse tube 15, preferably located in or on the bottom at the front of receptacle 6, as shown. That one of tubes 13 which does not communicate directlywith the interior of water-compartment 7 is connected within said compartment with the vertical tube 16, which extends upward quite to the top of said water-compartment 7 and is open at its top. The purpose of this tube is to furnish a Vent for the air within the series of tubes flow through the openings 14 in the bottom of said compartment into the tubes 13 and through perforations 17 into the receptacle 6,

and, if unchecked, would rise in the latter compartment until it filled the same, if the level of the water in compartment 7 should be sufficiently high. This result would not be desirable, since any plan by which the blotters or pads are immersed in the fluid or even brought in direct contact therewith would render the same too wet for presscopying purposes.

To prevent the free flow of the water through perforations 17 and to regulate its gradual absorption by the blotters or pads, I employ pieces of felt or other absorbent material 18, which are laid over the perforations 17 and held in place by means of suitable devicessnch as springs 19riveted or soldered to the bottom of receptacle Gin proper relation to perforations 17, the outer ends of said spring devices being perforated, as shown, so as not to form a complete obstruction to the passage of the fluid, but serving to compress the absorbent material 18 around perforations 17, the fluid being free to pass in contact with the felt and be absorbed thereby. The pads or blotters 20, of the proper size, are laid flat one upon the other Within the bottom of receptacle 6 upon the absorbent material 18, and upon the top of the pile of blotters or pads there is preferably placed a flat weight 21, of suitable non-corrosive metal, and when the receptacle is thus supplied its lid 10 will be closed, as shown in Fig. 4. The vertical front 22 of receptacle (3 is not so high as the side walls of said receptacle, as shown in Figs. 2 and l, in order that the pads or blotters may be easily removed when required for use. It is now plain that as water is poured into compartment 7 and flows through openings 14: in the bottom thereof into tubes 13 the air in said tubes will be forced therefrom and pass out through vertical tube 16, the water filling said tubes 13 and rising in tube 16 to its level in compartment 7. The water rising through perforations 17 in the bottom of re ceptacle 6 will be absorbed by the felt 18, which will communicate its moisture to the pile of pads or blotters and evenly dampen the same and maintain them in a proper moistened condition for use. The weight 21, which rests upon the blotters or pads within receptacle 6, serves to keep the same suiticiently compressed so that the blotters or pads may more readily absorb the moisture and retain the same, and the lids 8 and 1.0 when closed exclude the air from the blotter and water-receptacles, and thus prevent evaporation of the moistening-fluid.

In Fig. 5 the lid 10 of the blotter-compartment is not hinged, and is made of such a size as to snugly fit within the top of said compartment, so as to close the same completely, and is sufliciently weighted to serve all the purposes of weight 21, since it rests directly upon the pile of blotters 20. In this arrangement the edges of lid 10 may be pro vided with rubber, as 24, so as to secure an airtight joint between the lid and the walls of receptacle 6. The weight 21, as well as the lid 10, Fig. 5, may be provided with rings 23 to facilitate their removal.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a receptacle for keeping prcsscopying blotters or pads moist, the combination of a compartment for the blotters or pads and an independent compartment for receiving the moistening-fiuid arranged at the back of the blotter-compartment and in communication with the latter by means of perforated tubes extending under the blotter-compartment, substantially as set forth.

2. In a receptacle for keeping press-copying blotters or pads moist, the combination of a compartment for receiving the moisteningfluid and an independent compartment for the blotters or pads, provided with a series of tubes at its bottom in communication with one another and with the said blotter-compartment and also with the water-compartment, and an air-exit tube communicating with the first-mentioned tube, substantially as set forth.

In a receptacle for keeping press-copying blotters or pads moist, the combination of a compartn'ient for receiving the moisteningfluid, an independent compartment for the blotters or pads, provided with perforations which communicate with the water-compartment, and an absorbent material in the inner compartment covering said perforations, substantially as set forth.

-l. In a receptacle for keeping press-copy ing pads moist, the combination of a compartment for receiving the moistening-fluid, an independent compartment for the blotters or pads, provided with perforations communicating with the water-compartment, an absorbent material in the inner compartment covering said perforations, and spring de vices arranged to firmly secure said absorbent material in contact with said perforations, substantially as set forth.

5. In a receptacle for keeping press-copying blotters or pads moist, the combination of a compartment for receiving the moisteningfluid, an independent compartment for the blotters or pads, provided with a series ,of perforations in its bottom, a series of tubes which communicate with said perforations and also with the bottom of said water-compartment, and an absorbent material covering the perforations in the bottom of the blotter-compartment and upon which the blotters or pads rest, substantially as set forth.

6. In a receptacle for keeping press-copying blotters or pads moist, the combination of a compartment for receiving the moisteningfluid, an independent compartment for the blotters or pads, provided with perforations in its bottom, which communicate through a series of tubes with the water-compartment,

strips of felt or other absorbent material eov- I Signed at New York, in the county of New ering said perforations, and spring devices York and State of New York, this 10th day of secured Within the bottom of the b1otter-oom- September, A. D. 1888.

v partment and having perforated free ends CHARLES L. WISE.

5 Which hold the felt in contact with the per- Vitnesses:

forations in the bottom of said blotter-oom- J. E. M. BOWEN, partment, substantially as set forth. HUGO KOELKER. 

